2009 GMC Canyon Values

The GMC Canyon, a hard-working, midsize pickup, adds a V8 engine option, StabiliTrak, a bedliner and XM satellite radio for 2009, and the braking system has been upgraded as well. The Canyon can seat up to six passengers and offers a choice of two- or four-wheel drive. Available in regular cab, crew cab and extended cab, two engines are carryovers: the standard 2.9L four-cylinder with 185 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque, and the optional 3.7L inline five-cylinder producing 242 hp and 242 lb-ft of torque. GMC Canyon specifications indicate the new 5.3L V8 engine generates 300 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. The 2.9L I4 is paired with a standard five-speed manual transmission, except in the crew cabs, which come with a mandatory four-speed automatic, and the two larger engines are automatic only. Fuel economy estimates range from 18 mpg city/24 mpg hwy and 20 mpg combined for 2WD trims with the 2.9L engine to the top-of-the-line V8-powered crew cab that gets 14/19/16. Standard safety features include antilock brakes and the OnStar emergency communications system, while side curtain airbags are optional.

For the first time, a V8 is available on Canyon extended cab and crew cab models, while fuel-system improvements for the in-line 4- and 5-cylinder engines have improved fuel economy. The Canyon's brake system has been improved to match, and electronic stability control is now standard on all trims.
A revised ZQ8 sport suspension is available with the V8; it offers a "slammed" appearance, includes low-profile sport tires and has been lowered by about an inch. The Z71 Off-Road package has also been reconfigured to have a higher stance, with larger wheels and tires for better maneuverability off-road. Even base Work Truck models feature larger 16-inch wheels, with new 17- and 18-inch designs available. Body-side trim has been reconfigured through the model line, and two new colors--Navy Blue and Aqua Blue Metallic--join the palette.

The Canyon is between compact and mid-size among pickup trucks, and is a very useful size for city-dwellers as it's small enough to easily fit into just about any standard parking spot. The new V8 engine for 2009 fills a void in the compact-truck arena and turns the Canyon into a very capable, exciting-to-drive muscle truck. Price might be its most attractive attribute, though; comparably equipped, even with the V8, it comes priced several thousand dollars below a full-size truck.